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PM covers a broad spectrum of issues relevant to all sections of Australia's geographically and culturally diverse community. It looks behind political, economic, industrial, business, social, cultural, rural, regional and arts stories. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Underworld figure admits to killings

There's been a big development in the saga of Melbourne's gangland killings. In a move that effectively solves the mystery of the city's underworld war, 36-year-old Carl Williams has admitted he ordered three of the shootings. PM can now also report that Williams was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years jail last year for a fourth murder.

Vic police culture blamed for protecting corrupt officers

In Victoria, police culture is being blamed for protecting corrupt officers. In 150 years of policing, the State has seen 19 separate reviews, Royal Commissions and inquiries into corruption, but few of the resulting recommendations have actually been implemented. Today at a gathering of 40 anti-corruption experts from across Australia, the Victorian Office of Police Integrity announced what it said would be a far-reaching review into the whole police disciplinary system. The union is furious at suggestions that it could part of the problem when it comes to fighting corruption.

Fears of major stock market correction

Stock markets around the world are trying to come to terms with the crash that spread from Shanghai to the world. A nine per cent slump on China's stock exchange yesterday triggered the biggest slide on Wall Street since 2001, and falls throughout Europe and Asia. The local stock market fared better than many, but still ended up well down. Many analysts are confident that this is just a blip in a long run of good returns. But some fear this could be the start of a much bigger global correction.

Concern over cooling of Shanghai stock market

Yesterday's big Shanghai sell-off has underlined worries though that a more general slowdown in the Chinese economy could be on the way. The Chinese Government's publicly stated policy of trying to rein-in investment in this booming market has partly fuelled these concerns. Economists share the Government's view that measures must be taken to stop the bubble bursting, but their major problem is the lack of clues about what the Government's going to do.

WA decisions dogged by cronyism: Chamber of Commerce

Dogged by cronyism - that's the way the top West Australian business body now sees decision-making in the State. The WA Premier is trying to hold together a Government in crisis. He's lost three ministers in four months over links to the disgraced former premier Brian Burke. The latest dumped minister is to be investigated for contempt of Parliament.

Federal Labor feels the heat over Burke connections

Federal Labor politicians have also been feeling the heat over their contacts with Brian Burke. The Opposition leader Kevin Rudd has confirmed he's met Mr Burke on two or three occasions. Another senior Labor figure, Stephen Smith, said it was more than a decade since he could recall even having a conversation with Mr Burke and he wished more Labor MPs had followed his example.

Coalition, Labor clash over education

The Federal Government and Opposition now agree that the Australia needs a national school curriculum. The political fight is bogged down on who had the idea first and whether the Howard Government's been dragging its feet on reform. Education and nuclear power coalesced in Question Time today with the Government accusing Labor of stealing its ideas on the first issue and of having none on the second.

Japan calls off Antarctic season

Japan has announced it's cancelling this years whaling program in the Southern Ocean because of the fire that broke out on the whaling fleet's mothership. The fire that started on the Nisshin Maru 13 days ago killed a 27-year-old crew member who was working in the ship's whale processing room. After spending almost a fortnight assessing the damage to the Nisshin Maru the Japanese have decided to bring all six ships in the whaling program back to Japan.

Universities assess VSU impact

As students arrive at university campuses across the country, they're entering a new era - the first full year without compulsory union fees. Student groups had claimed that VSU would destroy life on campus. If O - for Orientation - Week is anything to go by, it's having mixed effects. One common theme is that student associations are being forced to become more business-minded, and justify their existence to their potential members.

Media authority investigates reality TV guidelines

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, ACMA, which monitors what goes out on the airwaves, is sifting through more than 180 submissions on what to do about reality shows on commercial TV. The investigation was prompted by an incident in Channel 10's Big Brother house last year, in which a female contestant was held down by two male colleagues, with one of them rubbing his crotch in her face. It wasn't broadcast, but it did find its way on to the Internet. The commercial TV networks say the current guidelines are adequate, but critics say they're not, and that the watchdog is virtually toothless.